After an interval of five years, the Albany was contracted for, also with the Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead. Mr. David MacIver’s connection with Birkenhead is one of very long standing, and he has always laboured to promote its welfare and prosperity. In recognition of his services, he was the elected representative of the Borough from 1874 to 1885. The Albany was considerably larger than any of her predecessors, her principal dimensions being—Length 300 feet 7 inches, breadth 39 feet 2 inches, and depth 26 feet 4 inches; with a deadweight capacity of about 3,500 tons. She was purchased by Messrs. T. W. Lunn & Co., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, by whom she was re-named the Willowdene.
A reference to the list of steamers built for Messrs. David MacIver & Co. will show the distinguishing characteristic of the names to be the terminal letter Y. An amusing incident occurred in this connection during the building of the steamer Albany. A firm of north country shipowners, whose steamers were named after British dukes (omitting the prefix “Duke of”), had selected “Albany” for a vessel then under construction, and they made the cool request to Messrs. David MacIver & Co. to change the name of their steamer. It is needless to say they were unable to comply with this request.
For the first few years, the steamers named were not employed in any regular trade, though originally designed for the Mediterranean—hence the names Tuscany, Sicily, Barbary, Thessaly, &c.—but traded, as inducement offered, to the Mediterranean, the Danube, the Black Sea, and elsewhere. They have formed part of the Anchor Line to Bombay, and of the Hall Line to the same port; and they have operated in the North Atlantic in the service of Messrs. Richardson, Spence and Co., between Liverpool and Philadelphia.
In 1883 Messrs. David MacIver & Co. despatched their first steamer to the River Plate, and two years later they established a regular service between Liverpool and Buenos Ayres, Montevideo and Rosario.
In 1893, Mr. Charles Livingston, who had been associated with Mr. MacIver for two years previously, became a partner in the firm. Mr. Livingston takes a very active part in the management of the steamers, and he has devoted himself with great energy and success to the development of the River Plate trade with Great Britain. The five steamers named having become too small for the requirements of the service in which they were engaged, were disposed of, as stated, to various buyers and replaced by modern steamers of greater capacity and higher speed. These later steamers have all been designed specially for the River Plate trade, and although large carriers, are of remarkably light draught, thus enabling them to ascend to Rosario, without putting consignees and shippers to the risk and expense of transhipping cargo.
In 1894 contracts were placed with Sir Raylton Dixon & Co., Middlesbrough, for three steamers of exactly similar dimensions and engine power. The first of these was the Saxony, launched December, 1894. She is a steel screw steamer of 3,500 tons deadweight, and fitted with triple-expansion engines (constructed by Blair & Co., Ltd., Stockton) working up to about 1,500 horse-power effective. The following month (January, 1895) her sister ship, the Normandy, was delivered, and February of the same year witnessed the completion of the third vessel, the Lombardy.
The steamer which succeeded these was 1,000 tons larger. She is named the Brittany, and was built in 1898 by Messrs. Richardson, Duck & Co., Stockton. She is a steel screw steamer, 330 feet long, by 43 feet beam and 16 feet 6 inches depth, with a deadweight carrying capacity of 4,500 tons. She is, like all her sister ships, propelled by triple-expansion engines constructed by Blair & Co., Ltd., Stockton.
The opening of the 20th century was marked by a further and an important advance in the carrying capacity of the firm’s steamers. Contracts were placed with Messrs. Richardson, Duck & Co. for three steamers, two of which are each of about 6,500 tons, and the third of about 5,500 tons deadweight. The first of the trio, the Barbary (second of that name) was delivered in May, 1901, and the Tartary in July following. Both these vessels are practically identical as regards size and power. They are each 370 feet long, with a beam of 48 feet 1 inch, and a depth of 19 feet and a half. Their engines (triple-expansion) develop 3,000 horse-power. In November of the same year the Burgundy, a vessel of somewhat smaller dimensions, was completed.
The fleet of Messrs. David MacIver & Co.’s line to the River Plate at present consists of seven full-powered steamers, but before the close of the present year an eighth steamer, the Araby, now in course of construction, and of about the same dimensions as the Burgundy, will be placed on the service. Formerly the steamers were each registered as a single ship company, but in 1900 they were all incorporated in David MacIver, Sons and Co., Ltd.
The Directors of the Limited Company are David MacIver, Esq., M.P., his son Charles MacIver, Esq., and Charles Livingston, Esq. The steamers of Messrs. David MacIver and Co.’s line are deservedly popular with shippers and consignees in the River Plate trade, who are able to depend upon them for regularity of service and careful handling of their goods, and with underwriters for their freedom from serious accidents. All the steamers are comparatively new, and are fitted with the most modern and perfect appliances for the rapid and effective loading and discharging of general cargo.